Vancouver residents Kyra Batara, and Dominic Batara, both were unbeaten and won titles at the third Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championships for Kids and Teens.
The tournament was held July 31 and Aug. 1 in Riverside, Calif. More than 400 competitors between the ages or 4 and 17 participated in the event. The Bataras each won in both the gi (standup) and no-gi (wrestling) styles of competition.
Jacob Radford, 8, who trains with the Bataras at Fisticuffs Gym in Vancouver, placed third in his divisions at the Riverside tournament.
Kyra, 15, returned from missing about a year of competition with a shoulder injury to win her titles. Dominic, 7, did not surrender a point on his way to two titles.
The Bataras said they train at least six days a week. Their training facilities include local gyms Fisticuffs/Purebred, Universal Jiu-Jitsu, Moo Yea-Do NW, and USA Wrestling.
“My brother and I both want to be professional fighters one day,” Kyra said. “That’s our goal.”
The jiu jitsu tournament in Riverside, staged by United Brazilian Jiu Jitsu MMA Club of Riverside, was the fourth consecutive weekend the Bataras competed in a martial arts or mixed martial arts competition.
“There’s no reason to take a break,” Kyra said. “I’m around my family all the time doing what I love to do.”
A highlight of their trip to California was a special invitation to train at Black House Gym, home to current UFC middle weight champion Anderson Silva. Gym owner Ed Soares has supported the Bataras in their mixed martial arts careers, according to Dean Batara, their father.
Kyra and Dominic also are models for several California-based companies.
